I’m constantly trying new things, but I only review stuff that I actually use.  That should help keep the clutter down and keep you focused on the best stuff out there. I hope these reviews are of benefit to you in your lifelong adventure of photographic fortune and glory.

Photography-related reviews

• Photomatix Review – the software I use most for the “look” of my photos
• SmugMug Review – how I share my photos online… I think SmugMug is the best
• Animoto Review – a fun and stylish way to make online videos. So easy!
• Topaz Adjust Review – an amazing plugin to give very nice effects
• Topaz Detail Review – another winner from Topaz
• Topaz InFocus Review – another winner from Topaz
• Noiseware Review – great for reducing the “noise” in photos
• OnOne Plugin Review – a robust suite of products and great tools you should know
• Nik Review – a wide variety of post-processing filter options that are fun!
• Lucis Review – wonderful for adding sharp detail and pop
• Portraiture Review – used for making people and portraits look amazing
• Silver Efex Pro Review – black and white filters sound kinda boring, yes? No – check this out!
• Genuine Fractals Review – you don’t know what you are missing when it comes to making photos bigger!
• Photoshop Review – a nice review of Adobe Photoshop and why you need it!

For more info on the “Process”, feel free to visit my HDR Tutorial!

Cameras I recommend:

For a list of recommended cameras, see the “Stuff You Need” page here on the site.

First Three Lenses

If you are just getting started and want recommendations on your first three lenses, here they are.  Note that, often times, your camera may come with a “kit lens”.  That lens is usually pretty versatile and can get you a long way.  But, the beauty of DSLRs is that there are many lenses that are better for more specialized situations.

1. Nikon 14-24 Review (Lens) – A great wide-angle lens for landscapes and architecture that I use for about 60% of my landscapes
2. Nikon 28-300 Review (Lens) – Perfect walk-around lens mid-range stuff like landscapes, birthdays, families, close-up sports, events, holiday cheer, swinger parties. This has become one of my main lenses, except for when I want to go really wide (for huge landcapes scenes or plus-sized swinger parties)
3. Nikon 50mm Review (Lens) – Ideal for cute children, close-up objects where you like a blurry background, friends, interventions

All Lens Reviews

I only write reviews for lenses that I used and I recommend.   Below is the full list.

• Want to try out a lens?  See my Lens Rental review of BorrowLenses.com – Netflix for lenses!
• Nikon 28-300 – An incredible lens. I currently use it for most of my landscape shots, unless things get really wide. In that case, I use the 14-24 lens (see below).
• Nikon 18-200 – A great all-around lens for wide-angle and zoom.  Just getting started?  This is what you need! (Review coming soon)
• Nikon 24-70 Review (Lens) – Perfect for mid-range stuff like landscapes, birthdays, families, close-up sports, events, holiday cheer, swinger parties
• Nikon 14-24 Review (Lens) – A great wide-angle lens for landscapes and architecture that I use for about 60% of my landscapes
• Nikon 85mm Review (Lens) – Incredible for people shots. Just. Incredible.
• Nikon 50mm Review (Lens) – Ideal for cute children, close-up objects where you like a blurry background, friends, interventions
• Nikon 70-200 Review (Lens) – A great lens for things that are kinda far away, like animals or sports or that girl you are stalking
• Nikon 200-400 Review (Lens) – A super-zoom lens, perfect for wildlife and other shots from a distance.

Tripod and Head (Optional):

My best advice for tripods is to visit your local camera store and try them out!  Find one that you find easy to use…  I’ve tried many, and my recommendations are below.

A tripod is composed of two parts – the Legs and the Head.  The head simply attaches to the legs, and these have universal connections.

• Tripod Legs (entry level) - Manfrotto 190XB 3 Section Aluminum Tripod
  • An excellent set of legs for most small to medium-sized cameras such as the Nikon D90 mentioned above. It supports 11 pounds, so you have room to grow.
• Tripod Legs (professional) - TVC-33 Tripod Legs from Really Right Stuff(Note that link is the combo legs + head that I use)
  • I recently switched from the high-end Gitzo tripod legs to some from Really Right Stuff. These are awesome. They are lighter and stronger than the comparable Gitzo.
• Tripod Head (entry level) - Giottos MH-1000 Large Ball Head w/ Built-in Quick Release
  • A simple and easy to use quick-release head that you will enjoy
• Tripod Head (professional) –  BH-55 from Really Right Stuff(Note that link is the combo legs + head that I use)
  • This company makes remarkable products…  When you go to the site, you can choose the best setup for your camera.  This is what I use on my professional cameras.

My Equipment

• Here is a listing of my HDR Camera recommendations for those of you that are interested.
• What’s in Trey’s Photo Bag? –  A video that shows all the stuff in my bag

Tutorials:

• HDR Tutorial
• Textures Tutorial
• Lucis Tutorial

Photography Portfolio:

• How to Make an Online Photo Album – Creating your own portfolio with SmugMug

Other Stuff

• SmugMug Review – I use SmugMug for my online portfolio
• Hoodman Review – The best memory cards – I use them!
• Lens Rental – A review of BorrowLenses.com
• AWeber Review – my favorite Newsletter Software
• Dropbox Review -This is what I use to send large files to people, share files across computers, and do backup of important files.
• Games for iPhone – Some of my favorite games and other apps!
• Trey’s Playlist and Music – to listen to while taking photos and post-processing
• Backblaze Review – My solution for ensuring all my files and photos are backed up onto the Internet in case of a big fire or theft.
• Woopra Review – a great live analytics tool
• HDR Book – A book by yours truly on HDR Photography!

Any questions about the nature of these reviews? Visit my Ethics Statement. It’s all quite simple!